Summer work lets Croatian students cover living costs in just one weekend

Around 30,000 students from the University of Zagreb make up a significant part of Croatia’s tourism workforce.

Even before becoming students, high school graduates can work during the summer through the Student Service and earn money for the start of their studies, Zagreb Student Centre (SC) director Mario Župan told Hina.

“After finishing secondary school and passing the state graduation exams, school leavers can join the Student Service and work throughout the summer until October 1, when the academic year begins,” Župan said.

Last summer, around 3,800 graduates worked through the Student Service, CE Report quotes HINA.

Through the Student Service, graduates work in accordance with the law and a set hourly rate. They only need to open a bank account of their choice, while the SC cooperates with banks offering various packages.

“This way, graduates can earn a solid income before starting university in the autumn. All job offers are published on the SC Zagreb website and social media,” he added.

For students of the University of Zagreb who are not from the capital but wish to stay in the city during the summer, the SC provides summer accommodation from July 15 to September 1 for €180, which averages about €4 per day. This applies to students who applied for student dormitories, regardless of whether they secured a place, or those renting privately who receive €60 per month from the state.

Each summer, between 700 and 900 students choose to remain in Zagreb and work, Župan noted.

At the level of the Zagreb Student Centre, 12,500 employers offer jobs to students. Around 44,000 students use Student Service services, and about 30,000 of them work in tourism in Croatia during the summer.

“We have a wide range of opportunities for employers, students, and graduates,” Župan emphasized.

Students in tourism perform a variety of jobs, including in hospitality, retail, call centers, as programmers, IT technicians, hostesses, animators, fitness trainers, and lifeguards at sea and pools. The official hourly wage is €6.56, but on average it is closer to €7, rising to €11–12 depending on the job. Pay increases apply for night shifts, Sundays, and public holidays in accordance with the law.

The hourly rate is adjusted annually based on the average gross wage in Croatia, with the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, i.e. the government, determining the minimum rate. When the Student Employment Act was introduced in 2018, the minimum hourly wage was 18.5 kuna (around €2.30), and it has now risen to €6.56, Župan said.

Over eight years, this represents a 200% increase. Meanwhile, the price of student meals remains subsidized at €0.86. Monthly student dormitory accommodation ranges from €40 to €110 depending on category, including free internet and utilities.

“With one weekend of work, a student can cover the cost of food and subsidized accommodation. On average, students earn between €3,000 and €6,000 during the summer months,” Župan highlighted.

If students are not registered as dependents of their parents, their tax-free income threshold is up to €12,000 annually. Any amount above that is taxed at 20%. If they are registered as dependents, the tax-free allowance is €3,600 per year.

Župan stressed that the Student Centre acts as an intermediary and protects students’ rights. If an employer fails to pay, the SC compensates students and files a lawsuit against the employer, as well as reporting them for inspection. It also ensures payment for night work, Sundays, and holidays.

“The Student Centre is fully at the service of students—not only for job mediation, but also in cases of abuse, mobbing, or any other issues,” Župan said.

He also noted that Croatian employers prefer hiring students over foreign workers during the summer, as there are no language barriers and students adapt more easily to the labor market. Employers see students as an investment in the future workforce, and it is not uncommon for them to later offer scholarships.

Foreign workers, on the other hand, are more often employed in construction and in hospitality as auxiliary workers or cooks, while students take on a broader range of roles.